Sliding Door Cable Guide With Floating End Link to Prevent Rattle
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable guides for vehicle sliding doors often rattle due to miscoordination of tensioning forces, leading to contact with the vehicle body or door, and are costly and complex to assemble.
Innovation Solution
A cable guide with a longitudinally movable second end link and a tensioning device that maintains the energy chain in a floating equilibrium position, preventing rattling by ensuring tension when closed and allowing deflection when open, using a compression-loaded spring for simple assembly and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the energy chain is kept stretched by a tensioning force when the sliding door is closed, then the initial situation is defined, but the chain rattles when the door opens because the tensioning force is not sufficiently coordinated
Solution Approach 1:
The second end link is made longitudinally movable on the second connection device, allowing it to adapt its position dynamically. The tensioning device adjusts the tensioning force based on the door position, providing optimal tension when closed and allowing relaxation when open, thereby preventing rattling while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensioning force parameter is changed dynamically through the tensioning device. When the door is closed, sufficient tensioning force is applied to define the initial situation. When the door opens, the tensioning force is reduced, allowing the chain to deflect without rattling. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining tension and preventing harmful rattling.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the link chain is pressed too close to the vehicle body at the door-sided end, then contact is prevented, but the chain rattles at the beginning of the opening process
Solution Approach 1:
The second end link's longitudinal movability allows it to dynamically adjust its distance from the vehicle body. When the door is closed, the link is positioned to prevent contact. When the door begins to open, the link moves to allow the chain to deflect smoothly, preventing rattling while maintaining contact prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The second end link acts as an intermediary between the chain and the vehicle body/door. Its longitudinal movability allows it to mediate the interaction, positioning the chain to prevent contact with the body while allowing controlled deflection during opening to prevent rattling.
3Reliability
If opposing forces F1 and F2 are carefully coordinated, then the chain remains stable, but the assembly becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning device is designed to automatically coordinate the opposing forces without complex external control. The device self-adjusts the tensioning force based on the door position and chain tension, eliminating the need for complex coordination mechanisms and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining chain stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensioning device acts as an intermediary that automatically balances the opposing forces F1 and F2. It provides the necessary force coordination through its mechanical design, simplifying the overall system by consolidating the coordination function into a single device rather than requiring multiple coordinated components.
4Ease of manufacture
If the second end link is fixed on the second connection device, then assembly is simple, but the chain cannot compensate for tolerances and hits the vehicle body or door
Solution Approach 1:
The second end link is designed with longitudinal movability instead of being fixed. This dynamic capability allows the link to move and adjust its position to compensate for manufacturing tolerances in the chain and connection devices, preventing the chain from hitting the vehicle body or door while maintaining simple assembly through the straightforward movable mounting mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents rattling and damage by maintaining chain tension during closure and allowing deflection when space is available, ensuring reliable operation and tolerance compensation without unnecessary stress on the chain.
Implementation Method 1
the second connection device comprises a tensioning device for the energy chain, wherein the cable guide according to the invention is further characterized in that the second end link of the energy chain is mounted longitudinally movable on the second connection device and is acted upon by the tensioning device in such a way that, in stretched configuration of the energy chain, the second end link is sustained in a floating equilibrium position movable in both directions
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cable guide (1) for a cable connection between a vehicle body (52) and a sliding door (54) comprising a first connection device (4), a second connection device (2) and an energy chain (3) running between the first connection device (4) and the second connection device (2), which has a stretched configuration when the sliding door (54) is closed and a deflected configuration when the sliding door (54) is open, wherein the energy chain (3) has a first end link (42) at one end and a second end link (42) at the opposite end (22), wherein the first end link (42) is pivoted on the first connection device (4) and the second connection device (2) comprises a tensioning device (24) for the energy chain (3).The cable guide (1) according to the invention is further characterized in that the second end link (22) of the energy chain (3) is mounted longitudinally movable on the second connection device (2) and is acted upon by the tensioning device (24) in such a way that, in stretched configuration of the energy chain (3), the second end link (22) is sustained in a floating equilibrium position movable in both directions.The invention also relates to a motor vehicle (5) with a vehicle body (52) and at least one sliding door (54), which comprises a cable guide (1) according to the invention.